Water Meter & Reading Equipment Fee

Water Meter Retrofit & Replacement

Water meters are read remotely through radio read equipment. The Federal Communications Commission recently required that certain radio frequencies being used by the City to read our meters could no longer be used, which prompted the necessity of replacing the equipment we use to read the meter, the transponders attached to those meters and in some cases the entire meter.

Project Cost & Funding

Earlier this year the first phase of the replacement project was completed at a cost of $400,000, with a portion of that cost ($200,000) being borrowed from our General Fund. To complete the project, an additional $250,000 will be borrowed from the General Fund. Since this is a Water Fund expense, we need to reimburse the General Fund. In order to do this and to pay for future upgrades to the meter reading system, City Council adopted a $3 per month fee for all residential customers. This fee can only be used for the replacement of water meters and the required reading equipment. Residential customers will see this fee on their utility bill that is due November 18, 2013.

It is anticipated that the funds will be paid back with the revenue generated in 3.5 years. If you have any questions, please contact the Department of Public Works at 513-727-8953.